While HESA confirms Zika virus says quarantine unnecessary for Yap

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services): June 26, 2007 - The Federated States of Micronesia Department of Health, Education and Social Affairs has confirmed that the Zika virus has caused the outbreak of illnesses in the State of Yap.

Last Friday June 22 2007, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identified the Zika virus as the cause of illnesses in Yap. The Zika virus is similar to the dengue virus and similarly transmitted by mosquitoes.

Similar to dengue in symptoms, the Zika virus however generally last 2-4 days with milder symptoms of:

a maculopapular rash (red and slightly raised lesions) that appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body;

conjunctivitis (pink eye); and

joint pain, mostly affecting the smaller joints of the hands and feet.

According to the Department of HESA, because the disease is mild, no persons have been admitted to the Yap State Hospital and there have not been any recorded fatalities. It further noted that the State of Yap has instituted control measures similar to those for dengue.

The Department stated that since the disease is a mild form of dengue, quarantine measures are not necessary.

A joint investigation is being carried out by the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), the FSM Department of HESA and public health authorities in the State of Yap to better understand the nature and epidemiology of this outbreak.

The investigation is continuing to better characterize the clinical presentation of the illness, the magnitude of the outbreak, and the mode of transmission in order to determine the best control measures.

"The FSM is, through the investigation, contributing to the scientific knowledge to better understand the Zika virus," noted Assistant Secretary Marcus Samo of the Department of HESA.